Protecting Our Vision: Why Local Control Matters for Sherwood

Written By Tim Rosener

Sherwood is an amazing community. One of the reasons it stands apart today is the legacy of the leaders and planners who, thirty years ago, established a clear vision for our city. Through proactive planning, building codes, and land-use policies, they shaped the unique character of the city we call home.

As your Mayor, I believe my vision must follow that same path of stewardship. If we want Sherwood to remain an exceptional place thirty years from now, we must be intentional and careful about how we grow today. As Salem continues to preempt local control over our land-use policies, design standards, housing choices, and the very look and feel of our neighborhoods, we felt it was the right time to equip ourselves with stronger defenses. While Measures 34-347 and 34-348 do not solve every problem, they provide the essential tools we need to fight back against state preemption and protect our local community voice.

The Challenge: Salem vs. Sherwood

In recent years, we have seen an unmistakable trend coming out of the state legislature in Salem. A wave of new laws, such as HB 2001, SB 1537, and SB 974, has steadily chipped away at the ability of local cities to manage their own growth. These mandates often allow developers to bypass local planning and build whatever makes them the most money, frequently without the public hearings or neighborhood meetings that we value so much.

I want to be very clear: This is not about being anti-growth. Sherwood has always embraced growth when it is done thoughtfully. But we believe that growth should be consistent with the values and vision of our citizens, not dictated by state statutes or the Governor’s office. These measures provide us with the legal "armor" to fight back against state preemption.

I should also note at this point, when I say Salem, I'm referring to the state legislature and the governor. Courtney Neron-Misslin , the senator who represents our district has consistently voted against preemption of local control, she is one of a handful.

Measure 34-347: A Tool for Resident Involvement

Measure 34-347 is about transparency and providing a permanent defense for your right to be heard. It enshrines citizen involvement in land-use decisions directly into our City Charter. By doing this, we are declaring that public participation is an inherent part of Sherwood’s "political form" and an issue of Home Rule as defined in the Oregon Constitution.

This protection is more urgent than ever. Salem has already passed laws that eliminate public hearings and community input for housing developments of over 20 units. Even worse, they have already mandated a reduction in the required notification distance for neighbors down to a mere 100 feet. We don’t think that’s right.

In contrast, our Charter amendment defines the minimum requirements for public input, requiring a 1,000-foot notice radius and at least one mandatory public hearing for major projects. It has been our historical practice in Sherwood to go above and beyond these minimums, providing multiple points where citizens can review plans and ask questions. This amendment ensures that no matter what "short-cuts" the state mandates, Sherwood remains committed to a process that is "of the people, by the people, and for the people."

Measure 34-348: Securing Local Control Over Our Boundaries

Measure 34-348 reaffirms Sherwood’s exclusive authority to manage annexations, one of the most powerful tools a city has to manage its future. Deciding where our city begins and ends is a fundamental expression of local self-government.

Some of you have asked about the "voter-approved annexation" language in this measure. To be clear: voter-approved annexations are already in our current Charter. However, back in 2016, the state passed laws, supported by court precedents, that claimed cities could no longer require a public vote for certain annexations. We could have used this Charter amendment to remove that language to match Salem's current rules, but we chose to keep it in. Since the language we are adding is incorporated into that section, that is why you see it in this charter amendment.

The state’s current power to override our local vote relies entirely on existing court precedents. If those courts change their minds or if the law is changed in the future, we didn't want to have already surrendered a right that belongs to you. By preserving this language, we ensure that if the legal landscape shifts, your right to vote on the city's growth is ready to be exercised immediately.

More importantly, this measure protects our ability to use Annexation Agreements and other procedural tools around when, where, and how annexations occur. These are the tools that allow us to determine exactly what a builder will do before their land ever enters the city limits. This creates certainty for both the city and the developers, ensuring that our long-range planning, like the Sherwood West Concept Plan, is followed to the letter. It creates certainty for the builder before they invest heavily into a new project and it creates certainty for our community that a new project is aligned with our community vision.

Keeping Our Commitment: The Sherwood West Plan

Sherwood West Map

The best example of why these tools are necessary is our Sherwood West Concept Plan. This wasn't a plan handed down from a state agency. It was crafted over years by a committee of your neighbors, residents, and local business owners who know exactly what Sherwood needs. It wasn't just a committee of your neighbors, there were many open houses, neighborhood meetings, and other events to make sure we understood what the community would like to see in Sherwood West.

Our community-shaped vision for the 1,200 acres in Sherwood West is built on accountability. While many of the bills coming out of Salem would give developers the power to choose whatever housing type is most profitable for them, our plan puts the power back in your hands. There is little to no incentives or accountability  built into new state laws to ensure developers build what we actually need; our plan creates that accountability.

Through our community-led planning, the Sherwood West Plan guarantees:

  • Entry-Level and "Age-in-Place" Housing: We have intentionally zoned for cottage clusters and middle housing to provide affordable homeownership for first-time buyers and seniors who want to downsize without leaving the community they love.

  • Middle Housing Certainty: We have designated specific areas for duplexes and townhomes, rather than leaving it to the luck of the draw; this ensures we get the "missing middle" housing we need consistent with the plan we built together.

  • Preserving Single-Family Neighborhoods: Our plan carefully decides where middle housing belongs and where we want to maintain traditional single-family detached neighborhoods, ensuring a balanced community feel.

The laws coming out of Salem give developers the power to choose the type of housing deployed. Our local plan ensures the community decides. By voting for these measures, you are choosing a future where Sherwood decides our zoning, not out-of-town developers.

Your Voice, Your Vote

I trust our people. I trust our community to shape its own future far more than I trust a one-size-fits-all mandate from the state capital. These measures don't solve every challenge Salem sends our way, but they provide the essential tools to fight for our local democracy.

Voting YES on Measures 34-347 and 34-348 is a vote for Sherwood’s right to be Sherwood. It’s a vote to provide your city leaders with the tools necessary to ensure our local democracy remains strong, transparent, and, most importantly, accountable to you.

Let’s protect our vision together.

Mayor Tim Rosener

City of Sherwood

Tim Rosener
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Sherwood Takes Action to Protect Our Right to Self-Govern